Time of day announcing system



June 14, 1932. w. B. PRINCE 1,863,141

TIME OF DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEV June 14, 1932. w. a. PRINCE TIME 01'' DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1931 7 l1 sheetssheet 2 N mEwGuz W kzaou N PE 2 I mom NON A TTORNEY June 14, 1932. w, PRmCE 1,863,141

TIME 01' DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 POLAR ZED INVENTDR W 8 PRINCE 6? avmw A TTORNEV June 14. 1932. w. B. PRINCE TIME OF DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1951 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 2.. V iz i V 1 V V V V 1 IN VENT OR WB. PRINCE @(AM ATTORNEY WMutkO Junel4, 1932. w. B PRINCE 1,363,141

1 mm 05 DAY ANNOUNC'ING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 19:51 11 heetsh t 5 A" L w. w

RESERVE RELAYS IN VEN TOR W B. PRINCE A TT'ORNEY June 14, 1932. w. B. PRiNCE 1,863,141

TIME OF DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 I HI VOLUME IN N TOR m5 .PR/NCE ATTORNEY June 14, 1932.

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TIME OF DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1951 11 Sheets-Sheet IN VE N TOR m5. PRINCE iaefmzw A TTORNEY June 14, 1932. w. B. PRINCE 1,863,141

TIME OF DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VE N TOR W. B. PRINCE By A TTORNEY June 14, 1932. w. B. PRINCE TIME OF DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 a a 0, "HII N v =5 a a I u; 2 5: Q 0: 3 0- INVENTOR W. B. PRINCE ATTORNEY June 14, 1932. w PR|NCE 1,863,141

TIME! OF DAY ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12. 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 lAllAA lnlll I""' II II A TTORNEV June 14, 1932. w. B. PRINCE "TIME OF DAY ANNOiJNCING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet l1 t SK INVENTOR WBPR/NQE BY A TTORNE Y WILLIAM B. PRINCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TORIES, INCORPORATED, OF

ASSIGNOR TO BELL TELEPHONE LABORA- TIME 0]? DAY .ANNOUNCING SYSTEM Application filed January 12, 1931.

This invention relates to telephone ex change systems and more particularly to systems in which a subscriber by calling a particular line designation either by dialing as in machine switching systems, or by the aid of an operator as in manual systems, may obtain a connection with a central time announcing bureau from which at specified intervals announcements are made of the correct time of day. The object of the invention is to enable time of day announcements to be broadcast efliciently to as many subscribers in an exchange area, or a plurality of exchange areas, as request the time of day at any period thereof.

Heretofore it has been proposed to provide a tlme announcing mechanism for an oflice 1n which a plurality of subscribers lines terminate which may be automatically selected by any callin subscriber of the ofiice through the dialing 0%a line designation set aside for that purpose. Upon the seizure of the announcing mechanism from one or a plurality of subscribers lines, for example, as is disclosed in Patent No. 1,227,523, granted to J. G. Blessing on March 22, 1913, phonographic means transmit automatically to the subscribers line the hour and minute of the time of day. In the Patent No. 1,618,242, granted to G. K. Thompson on February 22, 1927, photographic sound producing means is employed for transmitting the hour and minute of the time of day.

It has also been proposed to provide a special operators position in the exchange .area which may be called either automatically or manuall in the same manner as a call would be ma e to another subscribers line, the o erator upon answering the call announcin to the calling subscriber the exact time of ay.

Such systems when applied to a large exchange area require a plurality of time announcing bureaus to give adequate service and do not permit the centralization of the service in a single operators position for enabling one operator to announce the time on all calls incoming from an extended area. In accordance with the present invention, one embodiment of which has been disclosed by Serial No. 508,208.

way of example, a single time announcing bureau employing but a single operator may be reached from ofiices of exchanges within a large area. For exam le, a time announcing bureau located in ew York city might be employed for serving all of the exchange areas surrounding New York city in a radius of 300 miles, the distant exchange areas being connected to the time bureau over long distance trunk lines set aside for that purpose. Thus, when any subscriber in such an area desires the correct time it is only necessary for him to call a designated number, for example, Meridian 4000, whereupon if his line terminates in a manual exchange the operator will connect his line with a trunk extending through a local distributing center, to the time announcing bureau, or if his line terminates in a dial switching exchange, he Will upon dialing the designated number become connected by automatic selector switches with a trunk extending to the time announcing bureau or through a local distributing center.

By suitably fanning out the trunk line terminating in the time announcing bureau through intermediate and local distribution centers it is possible to enable the operator at the bureau to simultaneously announce the time to any number of subscribers in an ex tended area who may at any moment be connected to the bureau for the purpose of receiving the time announcement. In order that the voice currents from the time announcing operators transmitter may be efiiciently transmitted over such a network, the present invention contemplates the emplo ment of vacuum tube receivers at the centre. time announcing bureau and at such intermediate and local distribution centers as may be necessary.

In general, the system in accordance with the present invention functions as follows: It will be assumed, for example, that a subscriber whose line terminates in a dial switching ofiice in Philadelphia desires the correct time and dials the designated number Meridbution center local to the Philadelphia area and multipled with other trunks extending to other oflices of the Philadelphia exchange and with other trunks extending to other exchanges in nearby communities, to a trunk extending to an outgoing distributing point located, for example, in New York city. This trunk at the Philadelphia distributing center would be provided with one-way vacuum tube repeater for amplifying voice currents incoming thereto from t e distributing point in New York city. Also incoming to the distributing point in New York and multipled to the trunk extendin to Philadelphia other trunks would be provided extending to local distributing centers located, for example, at Newark, New Jersey Easton, Pennsylvarnia, etc. At this outgoing distributing point the multipled trunk would extend as a single trunk to the central bureau in New York city also equipped with a repeater. 'Ifhe Philadelphia subscriber by dialing the designated number becomes connected over the trunk network directly with the central bureau. At the same time other subscribers located in the area surrounding the local distribution centers in Philadelphia, Newark, Easton, Pa., etc., may be in direct connection with the central time bureau in New York city. Also from the outgoing distributing circuit in New York city other trunk networks may extend northward through local distributing centers for serving northern New York and eastward for serving New England. Indeed it is conceivable that with a single central time bureau located at some central point along the eastern seaboard the entire eastern time zone might be served.

It is of course obvious that the system according to the present invention might be used to give service locally to a large metropolitan area such as New York city. In that case the ofiices of the area would be grouped according to their location in the area into sections, each section being served by a local distributing center, the local distributing centers being connected by trunks extending to an outgoing distributing point associated with a centrally located central bureau.

At the time bureau whenever a call or any number of simultaneous calls are incoming over the trunk lines terminating therein a calling lamp signal is given to the operator to advise her of that fact and a circuit is established which is effective, in combination with a clock circuit associated with the operators desk, during a 7 second interval prior to the next time announcement period, to cut through the circuits extending from the calling line that may at the time be connected to the central bureau preparatory to transmitting the announcement. The clock circuit is arranged to indicate the hours, minutes and quarter minutes and, just prior to the next quarter minute period following the receipt of an incoming call, the operator is signalled to announce the time indicated by the clock. She then announces the time, for example, by saying, 'When you hear the tone signal it will be exactly 5% minutes after 5 oclock. lVhen this exact time is reached the clock circuit extinguishes the signal and transmits a tone signal to subscribers lines which are connected to the central bureau. In this manner the operator announces the time at one-quarter minute intervals as long as the calling lamp at her position remains lighted.

In accordance with the present invention the desk circuit at the time announcing bureau is provided with transmission circuits in duplicate, each transmission circuit comprising a vacuum tube repeater, padding circuits, clock circuits and signals so that should one transmission circuit fail for any reason the alternate circuit may easily be cut into service and the defective circuit removed from service and connected to a maintenance operators position for transmission test. In order that the defective circuit may be tested and rendered operative before being again placed in service, provision is made whereby when a transmission circuit 's out of service the maintenance man may in conjunction with the operator make tests thereof to insure that when the operator makes announcements thereover, the announcements are of such character that they will be transmitted properly to subscribers. In conjunction with the duplicate transmission circuits suitable signals are provided to indicate trouble on either one of them and to indicate to the operator and maintenance man when either one is removed or returned to service. Signals are also provided at the central time bureau for V informing the operator and maintenance operator when the vacuum tube repeater circuits fail through lack of filament or plate current.

The invention also contemplates improvements in the clock circuit whereby in conjunction with supervisory circuits established over the toll trunk network, calling subscribers lines are cut through for the reception of time announcements only just prior to this quarter minute announcement period, thereby preventing subscribers from receiving partial time announcements.

Other features disclosed and described herein have been made the basis of other copending applications filed concurrently herewith. These applications are the application of R. F. Massonneau, Serial No. 508,209. the application of H. G. W. Brown, Serial No. 508,207 and the joint application of C. W. Keckler and A. E. Hague, Serial No. 508,211.

A clearer conception of the scope and purpose of the invention will be obtained from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the line of a subscriber A terminating in an originatng office X of an exchange area, the schematic representation 19 sender indicated by the rectangle in the lower portion of the figure, and the schematic representation of a district selector and office selector by means of which the line may be further extended;

Fig. 2 shows an outgoing trunk extending to a local distributing center, Fig. 3;

Figs. 3 and 4 taken together, show apparatus at a local distributing center, Fig. 3 showing an extension of the trunk of Fig. 2 extending over a two wire trunk to the outgoing distributing point of Fig. 5, and at the left portion of the figure the supervisory circuits of other trunks similar to the trunks of Fi 2 which are also multipled to the trunks of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 showing schematically alternate repeater, supervisory and alarm circuits which may be used in place of similar circuits shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows the other end of the trunk extending to the local distributing center of Figs. 3 and 4 and apparatus of an outgoing distributing circuit;

Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive taken together show apparatus at a central time announcing bureau. Fig. 6 shows one desk circuit at the central bureau; Fig. 7 shows the clock circuit; Fig. 8 shows a repeater circuit; Fig. 9 shows a repeater alarm circuit and Fig. 10 shows an oscillator circuit, the circuits of Figs. 7 to 10 being individual to the desk circuit of Fig. 6. Fig. 11 shows schematically an alternate desk and associated circuits which ma be used in place of the similar circuits 0t F1 6 to 11 inclusive;

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing schematically the arrangement of trunking facilities for connecting a plurality of oflices through local distributing centers and an outgoing distributing point with a central time announcing bureau;

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing how Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive should be assembled to disclose the detailed circuits of the invention.

General description of the invention By referring to Fig. 12 a general comprehension of the scope and purpose of the invention may be obtained. As previously stated, the time of day announcing system in accordance with the present invention contemplates the establishment of a central bureau at which is positioned a special operator who, when demand arises, periodically announces the exact time within the nearest quarter minute. Obviously, if required, such operator. could be provided with facilities for announcing the time within closer limits, as for example, to the nearest tenth of a minlife. It is intended that the central bureau shall be accessible from a plurality of oflices of an exchange area over a special trunk network fanned out from such bureau. To facilitate the interconnection of subscribers whose lines tclini inate in exchange ofiices of an area to be served by the central bureau with the central bureau the exchanges or offices' of the area aredivided into sections, all offices of a particular section having access to a local distributing center. From the local distributing centers of a plurality of sections, trunks extend as schematically disclosed in Fig. 12 to an outgoing. distributing point located contiguous to the central bureau at which bureau the trunks incoming to the outgoing distributing point are connected to the desk circuit at the central bureau.

While the invention has been disclosed as applied to a system in which all sections of the area may be served directly from the outgoing distributing point, it will be obvious that intermediate distributing centers may be interposed between the local distributing centers and the outgoing distributing point as disclosed in detail in the copending application of R. F. Massonneau, hereinbefore referred to. Intermediate distributing centers would probably be employed in a commercial installation but have not been disclosed herein in order to simplify the disclosure as much as possible.

The apparatus of the originating ofiice shown in Fig. 1 is of the well known panel type. The line finder 101, selector switches 102 and 145 and the link circuit of Fig. 1 may be of the same type and function in the same manner as the similar apparatus disclosed and described in Patent No. 1,690,206 issued to A. Raynsford on November 6, 1928. The sender may be of the same type as disclosed in Patent No. 1,505,171 issued to F. A. Stearn August 19, 1924. Only such portions of these switches, link circuit and sender have been disclosed herein as are considered necessary to an understanding of the invention, reference being made herein to the above identified patents for a full detailed disclosure.

The repeater 37 5 shown diagrammatically by the rectangle in Fig. 3 may be of the same type as disclosed in detail in Fig. 3 of the application of R. F. Massonncau above referred to.

In Fig. 3 the trunks outgoing from bank terminals of selectors'such as 145 of the dial switching oflice X are shown niultipled t0- gethor and connected at the local distributing center in the section of the area in which the ofiice X is located to a trunk 300 in which either the repeater 375 or the repeater 400 may be inserted by the operation of either III switch 350 or switch 450. Other olfioes similar to ofice X may also have outgoing trunks terminating in the local distributing center and multipled to trunk 300. The repeaters 375 and 400 are arranged to transmit voice currents in one direction only, that is, from the central bureau towards the calling lines in offices such as X. From the input-side of repeaters 375 and 400 a trunk 500 extends to the outgoing distributing point Fig. 5. This trunk is also multipled as indicated at the right of Fig. 5 to similar trunks which extend to other local distributing centers such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the extension of these trunks extend to the central bureau desk circuit 600 through contacts of key 650. An alternate desk circuit 1100 may be connected to the extended trunk circuit in place of desk circuit 600 by the operation of key 1150 to the right and the operation of key 650 to the left. Whenever a desk circuit is removed from service by the maintenance man through the operation of the associated key 650 or 1150 it becomes connected to test lines 652 or line 1152 extending to the maintenance mans test position. An operators transmitter 601 and receiver 602 may be connected to either desk circuit by plug and jack connections.

Initiation of a, call With this general outline in mind the invention will now be considered in more detail. Assume that a subscriber A whose line terminates in oflice X initiates a call to obtain the correct time. The subscriber A upon removing his receiver from the switchhook causes the setting of the brushes of the line finder 101 upon the terminals of the calling line and the extension of circuits from the calling line and district selector 102 over wipers of the link circuit line finder selector 150 and sender selector 160 to an idle sender 125. It will be further assumed that the sender shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1 is idle and becomes associated with the callin line whereupon a pulsing circuit is esta lished in the well known manner from the pulsing relay of the sender 125, wiper 110, wiper 107, the upper ri ht contact of cam 104, the lower brush of ine finder 101 over the subscribers line loop returning over the upper brush of line finder 101, the lower contact of cam 103, wiper 105, Wiper 109 to ground at the sender. As soon as this pulsing circuit is established the calling subscriber receives the usual dial tone and proceeds to dial the digits of the central time bureau designation which, it will be assumed, is MER-4000 thereby setting the registers of the sender to record the oilice and line designations of the central time bureau number.

As soon as the idle sender becomes associated with the district selector, the sequence switch associated with the district selector 102 advances to position 3 establishing the usual fundamental circuit from the control relay (not shown) at the district selector 102 through the winding of the sender stepping relay. Under the control of the office code registers of the sender, the district selector 102 is controlled in the well known manner to select a trunk group extending to oflice selectors. Following the selection of the proper trunk group, the district selector 102' functions to select an idle ofiice selector in the group such as the one indicated at 145. As soon as the district selector terminates its trunk hunting operation the sequence switch associated therewith advances in the well known manner to position 10 whereby a fundamental circuit is established over the conductors of the selected trunk for controlling the oflice selector 145.

This fundamental circuit may be traced from battery through the winding of the control relay (not shown) of the oflice selector 145, upper brush of switch 102, lower contact of cam 111, wiper 112, wiper 141, winding of the sender stepping relay (not shown) wiper 142, wiper 120, upper contact of cam 121, lower brush of selector switch 102, to ground at the ofiice selector.

The stepping relay of the sender and the control relay of the oifice selector 145 operate in this circuit, the oilice selector being controlled in the well known manner under the control of the sender in its brush and group selection movements to select an idle trunk such as 204 extending to the local distributing center. For calls to the central time bureau the oilice code registered in the sender sets up a class of call condition in the sender in the same manner as would be the case if a call were to be made to a manual oflice having call indicator equipment.

Following the seizure of trunk 204, a control circuit is established from the sender to the control relay 205 of trunk 204 which may be traced from battery through the upper winding of relay 205, upper back contact of relay 207, tip conductor 202 of trunk 204, tip brushes of switches 145 and 102, lower contact of cam 111, wipers 112 and 141, winding of the sender stepping relay, wipers 142 and 120, ring brushes of switches 102 and 145, ring conductor 203 of trunk 204, inner upper back contact of relay 207 to ground through the lower winding of relay 205. Relay 205 energizes in this circuit.

Relay 205 upon operating connects ground from cam 143 in the ofiice selector 145 over the sleeve brush of selector 145, sleeve conductor 208 of trunk 204, front contact of relay 205, to the middle spring of interrupter 210. As soon as interrupter 210 makes its right contact the ground on conductor 208 is extended through the winding of sleeve relay 211 which operates and locks directly to sleeve conductor ..through a single revolution.

208, connects ground at its inner lower front contact to the start conductor 221 and establishes a circuit for the peg count register over its lowermost front contact, the lower back contact of relay 207, the inner lower normal contacts of relay 212 to ground at the next to lower ront contact of relay 211. After an interval sufficient to permit the sender to make the usual trunk guard test and to permit the operation of the peg count register, interrupter 210 closes its left contact establishing acircuit for relay 207 from battery through the upper winding of relay 207, the lower back contact of relay 206, the upper front contact of relay 211, left contact of interrupter 210, to ground on conductor 208. Relay 207 upon operating locks over its upper winding, the lower back contact of relay 206, the lower front contact of relay 207 to ground at the next to inner lower front contact of relay 211, opens the circuit of the peg count register, disconnects the windings of relay 205 from the tip and ring conductors of trunk 204 and connects these conductors in a dry bridge including the winding of polarized relay 225. This circuit may be traced from the tip conductor 202 of trunk 204. upper front contact of relay 207, upper back contact of relay 212, winding 0 polarized relay 225, inner upper back contact of relay 212. innerupper front contact ofrelay 207 to ring conductor 203 of trunk 204.

Relay 205 releases without affecting the circuits now established, and at the sender a circuit is closed as fully set forth in the patent to F. A. Stearn, through the magnet winding of the code impulser switch for advancing the impulser switch out of position 1 As it passes through a complete revolution, the impulser switch transmits a plurality of series of code impulses to the trunk circuit of Fig. 2 in the well known manner, a series being transmitted for each digit of the central bureau designation 4000.

The circuit over which the code impulses are transmitted may be traced in part from the sender 125 over wipers 141 and 112, thence as previously traced through the winding of polarized relay 225 of trunk circuit 204, returning over wipers 120 and 142, to the sender. The impulses of each series may consist in the usual manner of light positive and light or heavy negative impuses. The polarized relay 225 which is included in the impulsing circuit responds only to the negative impulses. When the impulser switch of the sender advances, transmitting the usual negative impulses of current, the polarized relay 225 will respond to each such negative impulse. When relay 207 operated, it closed a circuit for relay 226 extending from battery over the lowermost normal contacts of relay 212, resistances 228 and 227, winding of relay front contact of relay 220, inner upper 226, right contacts of interrupter 229, lower back contact of relay 206, inner lower front contact of relay 207 to ground at a front contact of relay 211. Relay 226 locks over its upper front contact and the inner lower front contact of relay 207 to ground but is not effective to cause the operation of relay 220 during the transmission of code impulses because before interrupter 229 advances to close its left contact to complete the circuit of relay 220 over the lower contacts of relay 226, polarized relay 225 will respond to a negative code impulse and shunt relay 226 to cause its release. Thus during the transmission of the code impulses relay 225 in responding to each negative impulse will shunt relay 226 and since these negative impulses arrive periodically at intervals less than the interval required for interrupter 229 to complete a cycle, relay 226 cannot establish the circuit of relay 220.

Upon the completion of the transmission of the code impulses however, relay 225 will receive no more negative impulses and will remain deenergized thereby permitting relay 226 to reenergize and remain operated during a complete cycle of interrupter 229, whereupon the circuit of relay 220 will be f closed from battery through the winding of relay 220, lower front contact of relay 226, left contacts of interrupter 229, lower back contact of relay 206, inner lower front contact of relay 207 to ground at a contact of relay 211.

Relay 220 upon operating locks over its inner lower front contacts, inner lower front contacts of relay 207, to ground at relay 211 and connects ringing tone from the source of ringing" current 224 over the inner upper ack contact of relay 206, trunk conductor 203, ring brushes of switches 145 and 102, lower contact of cam 121, right windings of repeating coil 144, upper contacts of cam 111, brushes of switches 102 and 145, trunk conductor 202, upper back contact of relay 206, to ground at the uppermost front Contact of relay 220. Ringing tone current is thereupon induced over the calling line loop through the left windings of repeating coil 144 in an obvious manner, as a signal to the calling subscriber that a connection has become extended from his line to the transmission network. Relay 220 at its contacts 223 also extends conductor 219 to the winding of reversing relay 212 and extends conductor 222 over its lower front contacts through the lower winding of relay 207 and the upper winding of relay 206. The circuits over conductors 219 and 222 are closed in a manner hereinafter described.

The sender is advanced to the talking selection position following the transmission of the code impulses, in turn advancing the district selector sequence switch to the talking position and itself becoming disconnected from the established connection and restored to normal condition.

It will be recalled that when the trunk 204 "i was first seized, relay 211 operated. and connected ground to start conductor 221. A

start circuit was thus closed from ground on start conductor 221, normal contacts 301 of switch 350, back contact of relay, 302 to m battery through the winding of start relay 303 at the local distributing center. Relay 303 operates and connects the polarized relays 304 to 307 inclusive to the conductors of trunk 500 in series with the windings of m relays 501 and 502 at the outgoing distributing point. The circuit thus established may be traced from battery through the lower windings of relays 501 and 502, the lower back contact of relay 503, the lower left windgo ing of repeating coil 504, lower contacts of jack 521, conductor 505 of trunk 500, contacts 308 of switch 350, lower right winding of repeating coil 309, upper contact of relay 303, windings of relays 304 to 307 inclusive, upper right winding of coil 309, contacts 310 of switch 350, conductor 506 of trunk 500, upper contacts of jack 521, upper left winding of repeating coil 504, upper back contact of relay 503 to ground through the 90 upper windings of relays 502 and 501. Re-

lays 304 and 307 are so polarized that they operate in this circuit but relays 305 and 306 being oppositely polarized, do not operate. Relays 501 and 502 also operate to perform functions to be described hereinafter. Relays 304 and 307 upon operating establish obvious circuits for relays 311, 312 and 313. It is to be noted in this connection that the start conductor 221 is multipled to all trunk circuits such as 204 extending from the several oflices having access to the local distributing center disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, so that when any subscriber in such oflices initiates a call for time of day service, the start relay 303 will be operated.

Relay 311 upon operating closes obvious circuits for relays 314 and 315. Relays 312 and 313 also close circuits for other relays similar to relays 314 and 315. Since it is possible to operate four relays similar to relays 314 and 315 over each grounded contact of relays 311, 312 and 313, it is possible to thus operate twenty relays, and since each relay such as 315 is capable when operated of connecting ground to five conductors such as 219, the operation of polarized relays 304 and 307 may thus control the grounding of one hundred conductors 219 of one hundred trunks 204. When conduct-or 219 of trunk 204 is grounded through the operation of relay 315, the circuit of relay 212 is completed and relay 212 operates and locks from battery through its Winding and inner lower alternate contacts to ground at the next to 6 lower front contact of relay 211. At its lowermost normal contacts, relay 212 opens the circuit of relay 226, and at its lower alternate contacts, prepares a circuit for relay 206 which will be described later. With relay 212 operated, battery and ground through the windings of relay 205 are connected in series with the winding of polarized relay 122 in the district selector 102 to operate relay 122 for call charging purposes. Similarly, the relay 212 of all trunks which have been seized for use by other subscribers in oliices connected to the local distributing center are simultaneously operated through the operation of relays 214, 215, etc.

Operation of Niacin-trouble alarm Should the trunk circuit 500 be in trouble so that when the start relay 303 connects the relays 304 to 307 inclusive thereto, relays 304 and 307 do not operate and consequently relay 311 does not operate, a circuit is established for operating slow to operate relay 316 extending from battery, winding of relay 316, lower contact of relay 303, back contact of relay 311, back contact of relay 317 to ground. Relay 316 operates, causing slow to operate relay 318 and relays 319 and 320 to operate in turn. Relay 319 connects holding ground to the winding of start relay 303 to hold it operated until the trouble condition is removed, and relay 320 grounds conductors extending to the alarm board shown diagrammatically by the rectangle 321. This alarm device may comprise suitable lamps or signal devices for indicating to a maintenance man that a trouble condition exists on the trunk line.

In response to the alarm signals, the maintenance man depresses the key 322, thus releasing relay 320 which opens the circuit of ms the alarm signals and establishes over the upper contacts of key 322 a circuit for a guard lamp (not shown) on the board device 321. When the trouble condition is removed, relay 316 releases, in turn releasing relays 3'18 and 319. Relay 320 reoperates from ground at the back contact of relay 318 over the lower alternate contacts of key 322, causing the alarm signals to be reoperated. Since the guard lamp is at this time lighted, the reoperation of the alarm signals indicates to the maintenance man that the trouble has been cleared, whereupon he releases key 322 extinguishing the guard lamp and releasing relay 320.

Extension of start circuit to central bureau It will now be assumed that the operator is on duty at the central bureau and has plugged her announcing transmitter 601 and headset 125 602 by plugs 603, 604 and 605 into jacks 606, 607 and 608 of the desk circuit 600 and that consequently relays 609 and 610 are operated, relay 609 being operated over the make springs of jack 606 and relay 610 being operated in a circuit from battery through the upper winding of relay 610, sleeves of jack 606 and plug 603. transmitter 601, tips of plug 603 and jack 606, right windings of repeating coil 611 to ground through the lower winding of relay 610. Relay 610 in turn closes an obvious circuit for relay 612 which in turn closes an obvious circuit for relay 613. Relay 612 upon operating establishes the filament circuit for the repeater 800 extending from battery, conductor 801, lower contacts of relay 612, conductor 802, ballast lamp 803, choke coil 801, resistance 805, resistance 806, resistance 807 and filament of 'vacuum tube 808 in parallel, resistance 809 and filament of vacuum tube 810 in parallel, normal contact of key 811 to ground, thus lighting the filaments of the repeater 800.

Relay 613 uponoperating closes an obvious 293 circuit for relay 614, prepares at its lowermost contacts a circuit for alarm relays 901 and 905 of the repeater alarm circuit 900 and closes a break in the start conductor 507 at its upper contact. If the vacuum tubes 808 and 810 have energized. properly and cause the flow of space current, relay 812 will be at this time energized'and the circuit of relays 901'and 905 in the alarm circuit 900 will not therefore be closed throughthe operation 01 relay 613. Relay 614 upon operating closesan obvious circuit for relay 615 and a circuit for relay 61? extending from battery, winding of relay 617, back contact of relay 616 to ground at the upper contacts of relay 61 1. At its inner lower front contact, relay 615 connects battery to the filaments of the volume indicator 618 which may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,523,827, granted January 20, 1925 to E. L. Nelson, and at.

its lower contact closes the filament circuit of the vaouumtubes 1001'and 1002 of the oscillator circuit1000. This filament circuit may be traced from the filament battery through resistance 1003, the filaments of the tubes in series, resistances 1004 and 1005. conductor 1006, contacts of relay 615, conductor 100? to the other terminal of the filament battery.

When relays 501 and 502 at the outgoing distributing point, Fig. 5, operate as reviously described, a start circuit is can) ished from ground at the contacts ofithese relays over conductor ?.which is multipled' to other start conductors controlled by similar r relays 501 and 502' in trunks similar to trunk 500 extending from other local distributing centers, such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. upper front contact of relay 613, back contact of relay 619 to battery through the winding of relay 620. Relay 620 which is slow to operate in turn establishes an obvious circuit for slow operating relay 621 which in turn operates and connects the winding of relay 622 to the start conductor 507. Relay r 622 which is slow to release, in turn closes an obvious circuit for relay 623. Relay 623 elusive.

connects the start conductor 507 directly to the winding of relay 622, closes an obvious circuit for relay 619 and an obvious circuit for call lamp 624. Lamp 624 lights as a signal to the operator that a call for time of day has been initiated by a calling subscriber. When relay 619 operates it opens the circuit of relay 620 which releases, in turn releasing relay 621. Relay 621 in turn opens the initial operating circuit of relay 622, but relay 622 is now held operated over the upper contacts of relay 623 so that relays 623 and 622 remain operated so long as there is a. ground on start conductor 507, indicating that a demand exists somewhere in the area for time of day service. The purpose of the slow to operate relays 620 and 621 is to prevent a false signal from being given by reason of a momentary operation of relays 501 and 502 which might be caused due to line surges when disconnection takes place. The slow to release relay 622 is used to hold relay 623 operated over the period when relays 501 and 502 momentarily release when battery and ground are reversed through their windings as will be hereinafter described.

When relay 619 operates, it establishes a circuit from ground over its upper contact, conductor 626, the normal contacts of relay 700'to battery through the winding of relay 701. Relay 701 upon operating prepares a holding circuit for itself and establishes a circuit for relay 702 extending from battery, winding of relay 702, back contact of relay 703, upper back contact of relay 704 to ground at the lower contact of relay 701. The opcration of relay 702 connects ground to conductors 705 and 706 which extend through back contacts of relay 627 to conductors 628 and 629 extending to the outgoing distributing point and conductor 628 extending thence through the windings of relays 508 to 511 inclusive in parallelto battery. Conductor 628 may also extend through the windings of a second group of four similar relays if the area is large enough to require more trunks outgoing from the central bureau than can be served by the four relays508 to 511 in- Conductor 629 in a similar manner'may be extended through the windings 'of four or'eight' additional relays similar to relays '508' to 511 inclusive. It will be noted that relays such as 508 and 510 each serves five outgoing trunks such as 500, and consequently as many as forty trunks may be served, although it is intended'that not more than thirty-six working trunks shall be connected at one time to the desk circuit of Fig. 6, the remaining four trunks being held in reserve for'emergency purposes;

Transmission of cut-through supervisory signal When ground is connected to conductor 628 and relay 508 operates, it establishes a circuit for relay 503 extending from battery, upper winding of relay 503, lower contacts of key 512, inner back contact of relay 513 to ground at the inner front contact of relay 508. Relay 503 upon operating in turn extends operating ground from the front con tact of relay 508 over the front contact of relay 503 to battery through the winding of relay 517. Relay 517 upon operating establishes a holding circuit from ground at its lower contact through the lower winding of relay 503. When relay 503 operates, it disconnects the upper windings of relays 501 and 502 and ground from trunk conductor 506 and the lower windings of relays 501 and 502 and battery from trunk conductor 505, and when relay 517 operates, the upper windings of relays 501 and 502 and ground are reconnected to trunk conductor 505 and the lower windings of these relays and battery are connected to trunk conductor 506, thus reversing the direction of current flowing over the conductors of trunk 500. In a similar manner relays 508 to 511 inclusive and other relays connected to conductor 628 and 629 cause a current reversal on other trunks similar to trunk 500.

The reversal of current flowing over trunk 500 now causes the release of polarized relays 304 and 307 and the operation of polarized relays 305 and 306. Relays 304 and 307 upon releasing in turn release relays 311, 312, and 313 which in turn release all relays 314 and 315, which have been operated. Relays 305 and 306 upon operating close obvious circuits for relays 317, 323 and 324. Relay 317 upon operating closes obvious circuits for relays 325 and 326 and relays 323 and 324 also close circuits for other relays similar to relays 325 and 326. Since it is possible to operate four relays similar to relays 325 and 326 over each grounded contact of relays 317, 323'and 324, it is thus possible to operate twenty relays, and since each relay such as 326 is capable when operated of connecting ground to five conductors such as 222, the operation of polarized relays 305 and 306 may thus control the grounding of one hundred conductors 222 of one hundred trunks 204.

When relay 326 operates to connect ground to conductor 222 with relays 212 and 220 operated as previously described, a connection is extended from ground on conductor 222 through the lower front contacts of relay 220, lower winding of relay 207, upper winding of relay 206 and lower alternate contacts of relay 212 to battery. Relay 206 operates and locks over its lower winding and front contact to ground at a contact of relay 211, disconnects the source of tone current 224 from the calling line, and opens at its lower back contact the locking circuit of relay 207. Relay 207 however, is held operated in series with relay 206. The operation of relay 206 also closes the talking conductors of trunk 204 through condensers 230 and 231 and resistances 232 and 233 to trunk 300 of the Operation of clock circuit Returning now to the operation which takes place at the central bureau, it will be recalled that relay 702 operated to transmit supervisory impulses for causing all connected subscribers lines which have initiated calls for time of day service to be cut through to the transmission network. A further consideration of the clock circuit disclosed in Fig. 7 will now be had. The central bureau is provided with a master clock disclosed in the dot and dash rectangle 707 which is synchronized by a district master clock every hour. Impulses sent out by the district master clock operate relay 708 which connects battery to the synchronizing magnet 709, thus keeping the master clock 7 07 in synchronism with the district master clock. The winding contacts 710 of the master clock are arranged to close every 60 minutes and to remain closed from six to seven seconds to cause the intermittent operation of the winding'magnet 711. The magnet may also be operated independently by the winding key 712.

The master clock 707 is arranged to close a circuit for relay 713 through normal contacts of jack 714, switch 715, clock contacts 716 to ground. Contacts 716 close for a period of 0.5 of a second every 7 seconds and thus operate relay 713 for 0.5 of a second every 7 seconds. On the even hour or 15 minutes past the hour, depending on whether the correction of the clock from the district clock is made on the even hour or 15 minutes past the hour, the contacts 717 close and the contacts 716 are lifted off the operating cam of the clock, the relay 713 at that time operating over the hour contacts 717. Each time that relay 713 operates, it closes a circuit over the right normal contacts of he 718 through the winding of magnet 719 of t e electric position clock 720.

When the time indicated by the position clock 720 does not agree with the time indicated by the master clock 707 it may be reset by the operation of key 718 to its rightor stop position or to its left or step position as required. If the position clock is behind the master clock, by operating the key to the step position in which position it does not lock, the clock magnet 717 will be given an additional impulse over a circuit extending through the magnet winding, right normal contact of key 718 to ground over the left alternate contact of key 718 to advance the clock 7% seconds. As many operations of key 718 to the left may be made as may be required to properly synchronize the clock 720 with the master clock 707. If the position clock is ahead of the master clock, the key 718 may be operated to its right or locking position, thereby stopping the advance of the position clock until it indicates the correct time. This clock 720 should read 7 faster than the master clock. It is in the form of a veedorneter and is graduated in quarter-minutes, minutes and hours. When the time is 7 seconds past the even minute,

F the fractional minute wheel of clock 720 should read one-quarter, and when it is seconds past the minute there should be no indication on the fractional minute wheel. The same applies for the one-half three-quarters and even minute.

Each time that relay 713 operates from the master clock circuit in addition to advancing the position clock, it also closes a circuit extending from battery through resistance 7 21, winding of relay 722, lower normal contacts of relay 704 to ground at the upper contacts of relay 713 and from battery through resistance 723, Winding of relay 724, normal contacts of relay 704 to ground at the upper contacts of relay 713. Relay 722 operates, but relay 724 does not, as it is at the time shunted over its lower back contacts by ground on the upper contact of relay 713. Relay 722 upon operating causes relay 704 to operate over a circuit extending through the winding of relay 7 04, front contact of relay 722 to ground at the back contact of relay 725. Relay 704 at its upper back contact opens the circuit of relay 702 which as will be recalled, was instrumental in causing current reversals at the outgoing distributing point for causingsubscriberslinesto be cut through to the network. At its lower alternate contacts, relay 704 establishes a holding circuit for relay 7 22 extending through the winding of relay 722, alternate contacts of relay 704 to round at the back contact of relay 7 25.

lifter 0.5 of a second, relay 713 releases and opens at its upper contact, the shunt circuit around the winding of relay 724, whereupon relay 7 24 operates over the locking circuit of relay 722 and closes an obvious circuit for relay 700, which in turn closes an obvious circuit for relay 703 and closes a locking circuit for relay 701 extending over the upper contacts of relay 701, the upper alternate contacts of relay 700 to ground on the start conductor 626. Relay 703 upon operating closes an obvious circuit for relay 726. opens another point in the circuit of relay 702 and closes a circuit for announcing lamp 630, extending over conductor 631, the upper front contacts of relay 703, the upper front contacts of relay 704 to ground at the lower contact of relay 701. The lighting of lamp 630 is a signal to the operator that she should announce into her transmitter 601 the time indicated on the position clock 720. She may, for example, use the expression, When you hear the tone signal it will be exactly 5% minutes after five oclock. The transmission circuit by means of which the announcement is transmitted to calling subscribers connected to the network will be described hereinafter.

After approximately 7 seconds, the contacts 716 again close and relay 713 operates, causing the clock 720 to advance 7 seconds and closing a shunt around the winding of relay 722 extending from ground at the back contact of relay 725, alternate contacts of relay 704, winding of relay 722, lower front contacts of relay 724 to ground at the upper contact of relay 713. Relay 722 thereupon res leases and closes a circuit for relay 727 extending through the winding of relay 727, lower front contact of relay 726, back con tacts of relay 722, upper contacts of relay 701, upper alternate contacts of relay 700 to ground on conductor 626. Relay 722 also connects ground from conductor 626 over the inner front contact of relay 726, conductor 728 to battery through the winding of relay 632, thereby operating relay 632', and also opens the circuit of relay 704 which thereupon releases. The release of relay 704 opens the circuit of the announcement lamp 630.

With relays 727 and 632 operated, a tone circuit is established from the oscillator 800 to the talking conductors of the desk circuit 600 which may be traced from conductor 518, left normal contacts of key 650, upper front contacts of relays 617 and 632, conductor 633, upper contact of relay 727, left windings of repeating coil 729, lower contact of relay 727, conductor 634, lower alternate contacts of re- 105 lay 632, lower contacts of relay 617, left normal contacts of key 650 to trunk conductor 520. From trunk conductors 518 and 520, this circuit is extended to the calling subscribers line as will be hereinafter described. Tone 110 current is induced from the oscillator circuit 1000 through the right winding of repeating coil 729 over conductors 1008 and 1009. The operator is also enabled to hear this tone for checking purposes over a circuit extending 11 from conductor 633, conductor 638, condenser 637, sleeves of jacks 607 and plug 604, headset receiver 602, sleeves of plug 605 and jack 608. condenser 636, conductor 635 and conductor 634.

When relay 713 releases when contacts 716 of clock 707 again open after 0.5 of a second, relay 724 which has been held operated over the lower normal contact of relay 704 and the upper contact of relay 713 releases in 125 turn releasing relays 700, 703, 726, 727 and 632. Relay 7 01 will remain operated if a call still exists for time of day service, and with relays 7 04 and 703 released, will again close the circuit of relay 7 02 which will per- 130 

